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WOODS, Forest Paul

March 2, 1917 - November 16, 2015


On November 16, 2015, Forest Paul Woods at the age of 98 years, passed into the arms of his Lord and Savior. Paul, who was nicknamed Buster because he broke things, was born in Wilmar, Saskatchewan. March 2, 1917. He was predeceased in 1987 by his wife, Martha, his 2nd wife, Olywn, in 2004 as well as four sisters and two brothers. His unique sense of humor, his limitless energy and his Godly wisdom and advice will be greatly missed by his children Beverley (Bill), Margaret (Gary), and Douglas (Noreen), grandchildren; Ryan (Yen), Jillian, Joshua (Charmaine), Krista (Prince), Cheya (Allan), Brady and Shane, eight great grandchildren, his nieces & nephews & extended family in Canada, the USA & New Zealand. Paul graduated from Wilmar School, Saskatchewan, in 1933. He was the first male student to graduate from that school. Paul enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942 and later attended McGill University, Montreal, training for a position in electronics. He served in Canada and England as a leading aircraftman and was stationed in Devon, England, working as a radar technician in what was then a highly secretive position. Growing up, Dad's favorite sports were baseball and hockey, and in 1934 he was on an all-star baseball team in Wilmar, Saskatchewan. He loved hunting and shot many prairie chickens. He passed his love of the outdoors on to his son, Douglas. His pet peeve was picking rocks on the farm. Paul married Martha Betker on Sept 6, 1941. Upon being dischared from the Air Force, Paul and Martha settled in Whonnock, BC where he resided until his death. Paul worked at Whonnock Lumber as the log supply manager. It is only fitting that with a name like "Forest Paul Woods" dad would work in the lumber industry. 62 years ago, Dad logged his 15 acre farm with a team of horses. Today, his livingroom window looks out on several beautiful 50 feet tall cedar and fir trees. They are trees that he purposefully left because they were too small to harvest. For the past 7 years Dad lived on part of the original property which his son and daughter in law purchased and developed. He made sure all the jobs were done, including stoking the furnace, mowing lawns, spreading fertilizer, chopping wood, planting and tending the gardens, and overseeing the dogs, mules and horses. His family was constantly around him, as were many local friends. He gathered with his old Whonnock Lumber Co. co-workers monthly, kept track of family and friends on Skype and facebook, and was an avid reader. Paul was very involved in his churches and served as a pastor for a few years in the early 1950's. His love for the Lord and his compassion for people in need led both him and Martha to be Nanna and Poppa to many families in Canada, USA, New Zealand and Australia. Dad traveled to NZ and Australia many times and loved meeting new people. When asked what three lessons he had learned in life he said: Respect your parents for who they are, even if you cannot accept what they do. Always face truth at the right time in the right way, and in the right place. Never trust anyone more than you trust God. At Dad's request a celebration of his life will be held next summer on the land that he loved, under the trees that were such a big part of his life and with all of his family present.




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